The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-04
BUFFALO BILL.
The Great Attraction at the AmerI-
can Exhibltion-A Maine Girls Sing
ing-scenes of "WiId West'' Capt.
vate BritonS.

AT last the American exhibition is opened
writes an English correspondent of the Bos-
ton Transcript. / will slip over the details
Of that conventional ceremony. After the
prayer the band played "God Save the
Queen The Lord Ronald Cover, on be-
half of the Council of Welcome, consisting
of "about one thousand leading Englishmen
in all walks of life," read the address, which
was both cordial and courteous, to which
Col. Russell made reply and declared the
exhibition opened. Nine. Lillian Nordica
then sang with great effect and charming
manner "The Star-Spangied Banner" and
"Rule Britannia" then followed an address
by the director general of the exhibition,
and the band played Dixie" Yankee
Doodle" being reserved as overture to the
On this occasion the entertainment took
place at half-past four, but the impatient
public thronged the grand stand long before
the appointed time. At the exhibition build
ing the greater number could not hear the
speeches, and fearful rush was suddenly
made towards ''The Wild West" Nine.
Nordica's singing turned back the swaying
mass but for moment only; buffalo Bill
was the cry. When | and my party reached
the grand stand, almost every seat was gone I;
we managed, however, to ensconce curse Ives
somewhere comfortably. The audience in
itself was sight. The grand stand is said
to hold twenty thousand persons; If its capa-
city has not been exaggerated, should say
that, including those standing, over thirty
thousand people were present. l do not sup
pose that there Is living American who
has not seen Buffalo Bill and his show; at
least there should not be, for indeed it Is q
national entertainment you should be proud
of. will not therefore describe the cleverly
| contrived and most effective scenery repre-
| senting the Rocky Mountains; nor the re-
markably good effect produced by the differ
| emit colored soil of the arena; nor the pictur-
esque costumes of the cowboys, Mexicans
and Indians. The procession, review and
| introduction of individual celebrities and
| groups impressed the public With that
| strange feeling which is ever produced by
the unknown; there was little OF no ap,
| watching what passed before their eyes with
| over eagerness But the appearance OF Buf-
| falo Bills well known figure broke the spell,
| and as he took off his hat and bowed with
grace and dignity, the applause ran an round II
ance Mr.. Frank Richmond, the orator, had
| by many been taken for Buffalo Bill. be
lieve even bets had been made about it
When ON one of my early Visits to the camp
| my courteous confrere, Mr.. Townsend Perc,
the press representative, had coolly told me
that this mans voice could be heard sever
| miles off, | confess that hesitated in m,
faith, but now found it was only an embel
lshment. Every one was struck not onl.
| Dy MI. hlcnmOHu lnlHellse pOWci VI NOiSc
but also by his perfect clearness o
elocution. Mr.. Richmond caused nue.
laughter by some of his quaint remarks; 10
instance, when one of the ladies' missed
difficult shot, he gravely said, she can d.
It'll" and again when he told us, The Mex
can burros are reared with great care, thei
original cost being four shillings. dozen
By-the-by, both lady shots found much az
probation of their skill. Buck Taylor, Sci
geant Bates, Red Shirt, etc, were all we
received. Lord Ronald Cover made one Q
the party of distinguished visitors wh
have volunteered to ride in the Deadwoo
coach" The riding Of the bueking horse
was an immense hit The Indian stamped
created a furore. The graceful quadrille
horseback, if not new, has never been bette
done, and the Indian war dance was lndee
a Characteristic novelty. All Is interestir
and maryellously well done; but Buffa
, Bill is. after all, the hero of the hour. ii
| handsome presence and picturesque attil
! makes him not unlike Vandyke portra
! come to life; his shooting Is admirable. b
| riding perfection; he and his horse are on
and present the finest equestrian group
: ever saw. Above all, his personal digni
! prevents one for moment forgetting N
: Buffalo BIZ, riding in Q circus Tor one
$ amusement, is Hon. W. +. Cody, once
|, Coloael in the American Army, ana Ut
D | uant1orNou